Shinagawa Battery Islands

History

The Tokugawa Government commissioned Egawa Hidetatsu in 1853 to build several fortresses in Tokyo Bay to protect Edo from foreign ships, namely Commodore Perry, who also arrived that same year. Egawa's plan originally consisted of 11 man-made islands and three additional batteries placed around the mouth of the Sumida River. In just over a year, 6 of the original plan were completed, but due to a lack of funds and emphasis being placed on other fortifications, such as Goryokaku, the remainder of the plan was abandoned. Since WWII, most of these islands were destroyed or absorbed by fill-in projects such as the Tennoz Isle area. Only islands #3 and #6 remain today. Island #3 is now connected to the Odaiba Kaihin park by a landbridge. You can get a good view of each island by walking across the Rainbow Bridge.

Visit Notes

Walk across the Rainbow Bridge to get the best views. After visiting here you could also take a river boat bus from the landing next to the Odaiba Kaihin Park up to Asakusa. I'm not sure if this is a separate castle or an extension of Edo Castle, but most of my materials list it separately, so I will too.
レインボーブリッジの遊歩道を歩いて、台場を見下ろすのが最も眺望がいいです。訪れた後でお台場海浜公園の近くの水上バスで浅草まで行ってはいかがでしょうか。

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Gallery

No. 3 Battery Island
No. 3 Battery
stone walls of the No. 3 Battery Island
Inside the No. 3 Battery
cannon foundations
Path to the original boat landing of the island
No. 3 Battery Island as seen from the Rainbow Bridge
The No. 6 Battery Island as seen from the #3 Battery Island
No. 6 Battery Island as seen from the Rainbow Bridge
No. 6 Battery Island as seen from the Rainbow Bridge
Both islands as seen from the bridge
Map of the #3 Battery Island
Valuable materials related to building the islands
The photos and plans for the islands #1-3
Photos and plans for the islands #4-6

Castle Profile
English Name	Shinagawa Battery Islands
Japanese Name	品川台場
Founder	Egawa Hidetatsu
Year Founded	1853
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Odaiba Kaihin Koen (Yurikamome); 15 min walk
Visitor Information
Time Required
Website	http://www.tptc.co.jp/en//daiba//tabid/1376/Default.aspx
Location	Tokyo, Tokyo
Coordinates	35° 38' 1.03" N, 139° 46' 19.24" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2011
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2011
Admin Visits	March 5, 2011

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FurinkazanHatamoto

9 months ago

Score 0

On 14/12/2022, I visited this site for a second time. The weather was better than in 2016 and I took more time to visit the 3rd battery. I walked a longer distance on the Rainbow bridge also, to get some other angles of the batteries.

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FurinkazanHatamoto

91 months ago

Score 0

I went to Ôdaiba today and visited this site in the morning. It's easily accessible like written by the webmaster. I went also on the rainbow bridge to take some photos. It's a nice little park, but there isn't a lot to see. After that i went to several facilities on Ôdaiba. It's interesting to note that from the observation deck of the Fuji television building you can take nice pictures of the batteries. Also when you go to the downward elevators you'll encounter some nice devices

They look as little televisions. You can direct them to the batteries and actually they show you the batteries during the Edo period. All of them are present and you can zoom to see some details. The entrance fee to the observatory deck is 550¥.

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